Temperature and Stress Dependent Flexoelectricity in Perovskite Ferroelectrics
Typically, people speak of the piezoelectric effect (dijk), where the polarization is coupled to the applied mechanical stress. There is, however, flexoelectric effect (μijkl), where the polarization is coupled to the applied strain gradient. In this project, we will investigate the temperature and stress dependence of the flexoelectric effect in various oxides. The influence of oxygen vacancy gradient on the flexoelectric effect will also be studied. The project will require the processing of samples as well as utilizing various electric and mechanical experimental characterization techniques developed within the Functional Ceramics group.
Additional Information:
1. Cross “Flexoelectric effects: Charge separation in insulating solids subjected to elastic strain gradients” Journal of Materials Science, vol 41 (2006)
2. Zubko et al. “Strain-Gradient-Induced Polarization in SrTiO3 Single Crystals” Physical Review Letters, vol 99 (2007)
3. Biancoli et al. “Breaking of macroscopic centric symmetry in paraelectric phases of ferroelectric materials and implications for Flexoelectricity” Nature Materials, vol 14 (2015)
Contact Information
Prof. Kyle G. Webber